Rail joint



l ,473,334 Nov. 6 1923. J. R BUTLER l r RAIL JOINT FledMarch 18, 1922 Patented Nov. 6, 1923.

JOHN R. BUTLER, OF MONTGOMERY, WEST VIR-GIlil'IA, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE-THIRD TO TfB. CHAFFIN, OF MONTGOIl/IERY, WEST VIRGINIA RAIL JOINT.

Application filed. March 18, 1922. SerialNoi. -544,762.

To @ZZ ywhom my/ concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN -R.BUTLER, citizen of the United States, residing at Mont-- gomery, in the county of Fayette and State` of 'West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail joints such as are employed for connecting the abutting ends of railroad rails.

One important object of the invention is to improve the general construction of devices of this character. Y

A second important object of the invention is to provide an improved form of rail' joints wherein a novel arrangement of fish plates is used for connecting a pair of rails.

A third important object of the invention is to provide an improved form of rail joint having a novel arrangement of integral chairs.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide an improved form of rail joint having a novel construction adapted to produce an extremely solid, rigid and strong oint. J With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

.and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rail end as constructed to form the improved oint.

J Figure 2 is a side elevation of a rail joint constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4c is a section on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

In the construction of this rail joint the body of the rail is of the usual shape, being provided with the head 10, web 11 and fianges 12, the cross section being preferably the standard cross section for the weight of rail used. The rail body terminates in a squared end 13 and at the endthe web 11 istaperingly thickened Vas at 14 to providean integralV fish plate extending beyond the squared end'as at '16, it being observed that the web proper terminates at the squared end while the fish tends outwardly in vsuch position as'to engage against the fiat side of the end of an abutting rail web as clearly shown in Figure 5. In like manner the flange on the same side of the rail as the fish plate has its under surface inclined downward to provide a taperingly thickened portion 17 which extends beyond the squared rail end as at'18 to form the under side of a chair portion, the upper side of the chair portion being spaced above this underside as shown at 19 and being carplate portion exried by the extended fish plate portion. It Y will be obvious that the portion 19 overlies the upper surface of the rail flange which is inclined upwardly as at 20. 'Ihus the portions 16, 19 and 18 constitute a projecting combined fish plate and chair having a groove 21 to receive the end of the flange of the abutting rail.

The taperingly thickened portion 14 of the web 11 and the extended fish plate portion 16 are, in each rail, provided with bolt receiving openings y22 wherethrough pass theV readily formed by upsetting the rail end and drop forging and that such gradual thickening also eliminates sharp corners tending to develop weaknesses and breakage. A There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purposes specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and constructionY of the invention without departing from the material principles thereof. It is not therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is wished to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

ln a device of the kind described, a rail body having a squared end and provided with a web and a pair of ianges, and a coinbined fish plate and chair formed integrally with the web and one of the flanges and extending beyond said squared end, the web of the rail body being gradually and uniorn'ily thickened from a point spaced from the squared end to said end and the part beyond the squared end being of equal cross sectional dimensions with the greatest increase of the web to -form a ish plate portion, the flange being similarly increased in thickness and similarly having the part beyond the squared end o the same cross sectional diinension as the greatest increase in thickness exteriorly and provided with a groove to receive the flange of an opposed rail end, said groove being tapered to receive the gradually thickened 'flange Whereby said flange is wedged in said groove.

In testimony whereof l aiix iny signature.

JOHN R. BUTLER. 

